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An academy school in Tameside which has improved in its recent Ofsted inspection will welcome a new head after the Easter school holidays following the retirement of its current principal said goodbye to former principal Mr Stephen Ball on 2 April

New Charter Academy in Ashton and will start a new term on 20 April under the headship of David Shaw, who will repace former head Stephen Ball. David has spent most of his teaching career in senior leadership positions at schools in the North West and West Midlands, he is experienced at improving schools both as a principal and most recently as an education advisor with an academy chain in the West Midlands.

In February, Ofsted rated the academy ‘good’ in two areas; leadership and management and its sixth form provision, an improvement on the last inspection two years ago, While the overall rating of the school remains as ‘requires improvement’, inspectors found positive changes in a number of areas:

There is ‘good teaching and achievement’ in English with an ‘increased’ rate of progress for all students. Work to keep pupils safe and secure was also ‘good’. There is ‘good leadership in the sixth form’ which is ‘helping students to gain places at university’ and the principal, senior leaders and governors have made improvements in teaching and tackled students’ underachievement since the last inspection.

David said “New Charter Academy exists to enhance the life chances of the young people who attend. More young people are already achieving great outcomes compared to the time of the last inspection, particularly in the sixth form. I am determined to build on the existing strengths to ensure that every young person in the academy achieves more than they thought they could.” He is also part of the Future Leaders network and works with other leaders in education, business and the voluntary sector.

Stephen Ball who leaves after three and a half years at the academy said in his parting statement, “Being principal at New Charter Academy has been my last job but one I have enjoyed the most in my 37 years working in education.

“I leave with a sense of sadness but the academy has a great sponsorship and I believe we have built strong foundations for a bright future and I’m handing over to someone who I have confidence in.”

The New Charter Academy is one of three academies sponsored by Tameside-based housing association New Charter Group which has recently recruited a Director of School Improvement to help drive further changes across its schools.